Hyderabad: While Maggi noodles is under close scrutiny for lead content, the heavy metal is also used in Ayurvedic and in herbal medicines.
Senior general physician Dr Prabhu Kumar said, “The dosage of lead used for treatment is sometimes the cause for aggravating the disease. In the case of jaundice, some people still opt for ayurvedic treatment; in some cases it works and in others it aggravates the situation. Hence, the defined dosage as clinically approved has to be used. Excess dosages have created problems and often patients have suffered from life-threatening diseases.”
While there are various studies on contamination of lead, Ayurvedic doctors state that the dosage of 50 to 100 milligrams is accepted.
Dr P.H.C. Murthy, professor of Rasshastra in Government Ayurveda College said, “The impurities are cleansed and there is a physical change only after which it is used to treat the disease. The dosage also depends on the weight and age of the patient. Those who use it wrongly are not doing good to this age-old practice as it is giving it a bad name.” While it is accepted that lead, mercury and arsenic are part of the combination, the dosage varies from disease to disease. Also, the impurities have to be properly removed and the purification process is well-documented and also clinically approved, doctors say.
Herbal medicines too have come under the scanner for impure forms of lead. Bio-lead waste of plants and herbs, if consumed without purification, can harm the body and cause damage due to prolonged use, say experts.
A senior oncologist, however, said, “There are times when some cancerous tumours are cured due to alternative treatment. While we have given patients negative remarks and thought they would never make it, they have bounced back. Alternative treatment is thus showing results for some, hence discarding it completely is difficult.”
